I'm a Mexican American chef, author, teacher, and NYTimes contributor based in Mazatlán.
I'm the James Beard Award-winning and NY Times bestselling author of Mi Cocina and Salsa Daddy.

I was born and raised in Austin, Texas.
My first job was at Railroad Barbecue, a BBQ joint about a quarter mile from my house. I learned to smoke brisket, grill ribs, make chicken-fried steak, fry catfish and bake cream pies.

Growing up, I thought we were a typical Mexican family living in Texas. I thought the food we ate, our customs, and the way we celebrated were exactly what you'd find in Mexico. But as I got older and started traveling through Mexico, I realized the food was different. The customs, celebrations, language, and even the way people looked were different from what I knew in my own family. I didn't understand why, but I had to find out.

After 20 years living in NYC and working in advertising, restaurants, and food media,
I packed it all up and drove across Mexico to explore, taste, and understand the place my soul kept calling me back to.

Now, after six years of living in Mazatlán,
my mission is to challenge old ideas about Mexico, the food, the people and culture,
and to help you cook with more confidence, curiosity, and your very own sazón.